Life as an Artist: The Unseen Hours Behind Every Creation

Phew! The life of an artist is often misunderstood. For many people, an image is something they glance at for a fleeting moment before moving on. But for us—the artists and designers—it represents hours, days, sometimes even weeks of effort, energy, and vision.

When creating even a single image, the process is complex. It’s not just about making something look pretty; it’s about visual communication—the image must make intellectual sense, sit right visually, and stand up to scrutiny. If it doesn’t work, it’s back to the drawing board, no matter how much time it takes.

For every quick sketch or personalised design, there are countless hours behind the scenes. Original drawings can take upwards of 30 hours or more—imagine sitting in one place, focusing intensely, trying to bring an idea to life. This is not to mention the mental energy spent conceptualising, troubleshooting, and perfecting every detail.

And then there’s the challenge of working with personalised designs. When someone requests something tailored to their specifications, it’s not as simple as tweaking a detail or two. It often requires starting from scratch, delving into their vision, and bringing it to life in a way that aligns with their expectations and my own artistic standards.

Now, throw in the challenges of aging eyesight and an eye injury, and it becomes even trickier. I work with colour, images, and the rainbow colour spectrum, often switching between multiple pairs of glasses to see things clearly. It’s tiring on the eyes and gives headaches, but the drive to create pushes me forward, its an addiction I cant stop!

It’s all part of the life of an artist—an endless cycle of dreaming, creating, revising, and perfecting. We think in colour and shape, plucking ideas from the chaos of imagination and arranging them into something that makes sense, just for you.

So, next time you admire a piece of art, remember the effort behind it. It’s not just a quick sketch or a spontaneous creation—it’s a labor of love, infused with time, skill, and passion. The life of an artist might be fun and interesting, but it’s far from straightforward.

Spare a thought for us “mad” creators who live in the world of visuals. We see things differently, but we work tirelessly to share that vision with the world. 

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